“To be part of the Red Wing organization is a special thing,” Blashill said. “They’ve been the best-run sports team over the last twenty years. They’re an Original Six franchise and I think our players realize just how special this really is.” Our guys just don’t want to play in the NHL, they want to play for the Detroit Red Wings and that’s a great thing.”

Blashill added that the Wings are a treasure trove of information.

“When you add the experience of Cheli, Ozzie, Drapes, Jiri Fischer, Ken Holland, Jim Nill, Mike Babcock and Ryan Martin, it’s been great,” said Blashill. “I can lean on them in different situations. I’m the type of person in a leadership role where I ask for a lot of opinions and then I make a decision. I’ve asked all those guys for their opinions at different times this year.”

...

“I’m basically here learning how to coach,” Chelios said. “I don’t have a whole lot of input as far as the games, but it’s been good on the ice talking to kids if they do have some trouble, if you see them struggling or not even getting the opportunity because of the numbers, that’s when (my input) comes into play.” When I’m asked my opinion, I give it. I’ve played long enough that when you’re watching up in the press box, it's a whole different game as to standing behind the bench coaching.”

Chelios would like to coach too someday, but he’s at least a year away from committing to the profession full-time. With a daughter playing college lacrosse and two sons being seniors next year on Michigan State’s hockey team, he wants the freedom to watch his children compete. Even though Chelios is not in Grand Rapids on a daily basis, he has had a positive influence on the Griffins.

...

“From a player’s side, things that used to anger you or you thought were right when you played aren’t the case when you find out what it’s like being a coach,” Osgood said. “There are a lot of tough decisions. There’s a lot more work that goes into it than you ever imagined as a player. Coaches actually like the players. Sometimes you (players) think they don’t, but they do. They want to see them do well.”
....

“Everybody is a little different,” Osgood said. “Everybody has their own way as to how they want to be coached. You have to learn the different ways to push buttons to make a player successful.”

“I’m going to enjoy it just like a little kid,” said Pare, now in his fifth season in a Griffins jersey.

Sharing his excitement were Brian Lashoff and Jan Mursak, who have appeared in at least parts of five and six seasons in Grand Rapids, respectively, along with Tomas Tatar and Joakim Andersson, who have played the better part of four seasons with the Griffins.

“Obviously, not making the playoffs the last three years was tough, but the core group of guys here have learned a lot,” Lashoff said. “This year has been a lot of fun.”

The Griffins beat Houston in five games in the first round, Toronto in six games in the second round, then Oklahoma City in seven games to advance to the American Hockey League finals for the first time. Grand Rapids reached the Turner Cup Finals in the old IHL in 2000.

“It’s been a while, so we’re extra excited,” Mursak said. “We’ve played a lot of good teams in the playoffs and the games have been close, but we beat them. To come so far, we want to win it all now.”

Syracuse entered the finals with an 11-1 postseason record. Ten Crunch players were also members of last year’s Calder Cup-winning Norfolk Admirals team that finished the postseason with 10 straight wins. “It’s going to be a really tough challenge,” Tatar said.

Comments

Posted by
klank
from the finest hot tub in Marin on 06/14/13 at 05:25 PM ET

Thanks, George. Sure ‘preciate it.

Posted by
SYF
from the C7.R, flyin' low and feelin' mean on 06/14/13 at 05:33 PM ET

I wonder if they have a special overnight place for Chelios and/or Osgood to stay overnight in downtown GR.

If Wikipedia has it right, if GR takes the series, it will be the city’s first pro hockey championship (the West Michigan Whitecaps, the Detroit Tigers Low A affiliate, have the city’s last pro sport championship, their 5th Midwest League baseball title in 2007).

No video of it, either. I know that Panik speared Hoggan in the balls and got away with it last game, but you just can’t retaliate to that kind of shit. You can’t let yourself be drawn in and respond by being just as big of an *#$%@&.

The Griffins pushed out to a 2-1 lead but Mrazek gave up a squeaker on the 2-2 goal, Panik scored the 3rd and chirped all the way back to his bench, and Nyquist got sucked in at the end of the period. That and the Griffins’ PP is awful.

Yeah, Nyquist with a major. Griffins killed off the first 30 seconds so far, but if the momentum keeps up form the second period then they’re going to get murdered killing the last 4+ minutes of this major.

Hopefully the spear wasn’t suspension worthy ... Griffins don’t look like they’re going to be closing out the series tonight unless they push back strong and get some luck.

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